STARKVILLE, Miss. – CC Hutchinson's first collegiate home run will likely be a memorable one.

The Cougar freshman hit a grand slam in the fifth inning as SIUE overpowered Troy 11-3 in five innings at the MSU Bulldog Kickoff Classic.

SIUE, 2-1, outhit Troy 10-8 with hits coming from all parts of the lineup. SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said the Cougars have been making good adjustments at the plate and swinging the bat well.

"Hitting is contagious. Right now that's happening, and I'll take it," said Montgomery.

SIUE's offense recorded multiple-run innings three times against the Trojans, 1-2.

Brittany Toney provided a three-run double in the third inning. Her blast to left center drove home Jill Rackers, Rebecca Gray, and Alex McDavid.

After Troy scored twice in the bottom of the third, SIUE answered with another big hit. Samantha Stanicek gave SIUE its first home run of the season. The two-run blast over the fence in left center put SIUE up 5-2.

"She crushed the first pitch," said Montgomery. "That's something Coach (Buddy) Foster has been working on with the team – being aggressive early in the count."

Troy replaced losing pitcher Rachel Rigney after the fourth. After Gray and McDavid each singled off reliever Sarah Thomas, Troy went back to the bullpen for a third pitcher Jaycee Affeldt.

Affeldt walked Toney and Kayla Riggs. With the bases loaded, Hutchinson turned on a 3-2 pitch and belted the ball down the left field line. Hutchinson, in the lineup as the designated player, said she was thrown an off-speed pitch right before the 3-2 pitch and was trying to keep her focus.

"I was just trying to focus on staying back and getting a good pitch to hit," said Hutchinson.

The Cougars tallied once more when Rackers walked, stole second, and scored on a single up the middle by Chelsea Yankolovich.

SIUE freshman pitcher Haley Chambers was dominant in her first career victory. She struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. She threw 96 pitches with 72 for strikes against the Trojans.

Her only nemesis was Troy leadoff hitter Hannah Renn who was 3 for 3 with a double and a home run. Troy's Chandler Griffin also had two hits.

Montgomery also noted the play of freshman Jordan LaFave who was a defensive replacement in the fifth. LaFave caught two fly balls. "She made an outstanding catch at the wall. She does very well in the outfield,  using the angles to field her position," said Montgomery.

SIUE has one more game at the MSU Softball Field on the campus of Mississippi State. The Cougars have a rematch with Georgia State at 11 a.m.